Method for providing software in radio-based cellular communications networks, and a communications network for implementing said method

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for providing software in radio-based cellular communications networks. To this end, a subscriber station (TNR 1 ), which is checked into a cell and which has stored software that is to be provided, notifies a storage device (BL) of the cell of the availability of the software in the cell and it sends a message (NR) concerning the availability of the software to the subscriber station (TNR) checked into the cell. Another subscriber station (TNR 2 ), which is checked into the cell, requests the software by sending a message (NR 2 ), whereby the message (NR 2 ) is sent with a limited transmitting power so that the message (NR 2 ) can only be received by subscriber stations, which are located at a distance from the sending subscriber station (TNR 2 ) that is small compared to the diameter of the cell. When the subscriber station (TNR 1 ) has received the message (NR 2 ) sent by the other subscriber station (TNR 2 ), the software is immediately transmitted from subscriber station (TNR 1 ) to the other subscriber station (TNR 2 )

[0001] The invention relates to a method for providing software in radio-based cellular communications networks, and a communications network for implementing said method.

[0002] In today's computer networks, a client-server structure is frequently used to provide new software, and this is generally also referred to as a software upgrade. This is characterized by a hierarchical structure, whereby the software is stored on a higher-order “server” computer, which, at the request of “client” computers connected to the server, provides the latter with the required software.

[0003] On the basis of this fundamental model, which is also referred to as a single-server architecture, further variants exist, in which e.g. a plurality of servers process requests from a multiplicity of lower-order clients (multi-server architecture). For temporary storage of the software, “proxy servers” can also be used, which are disposed in the hierarchy between the client and server. The software requested by a client is temporarily stored in the proxy server in this architecture, so that, when a new request is received from a different client, the software can be requested directly from the proxy server (which is normally located in physically closer proximity). This method is used, for example, on the Internet for temporary storage of frequently requested web pages.

[0004] In radio-based cellular communications networks, such as the existing GSM (Global System Mobile) network, or the planned UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) network as a third-generation mobile network, software upgrades need to be carried out, e.g. an upgrade of a WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) browser. Here, the software can be provided by the manufacturer of a subscriber station, by a network operator or by an independent service provider.

[0005] If one of the aforementioned client-server architectures is used for the software upgrade, in which the software is stored centrally on servers in the mobile network and is transmitted from there to each individual subscriber station, this nevertheless produces unacceptable waiting times given the large number of subscriber stations. A model calculation can explain this:

[0006] A maximum of 6 minutes is to be taken to download new software. For this purpose, 100 servers are available, which are intended to distribute the software among 10 million subscriber stations. With sequential processing, the software download to all subscriber stations requires

10,000,000*6 min./100 servers=10,000 hours>1 year.

[0007] Even with an increase in the number of servers to 1000, the software upgrade would still require around 1.5 months in the most favorable case. However, an increase in the number of servers incurs substantial costs and is therefore uneconomical.

[0008] Furthermore, in mobile communications networks, in contrast to a fixed network, no allocation of a subscriber station to a network connection is possible. Consequently, in the case of central provision of software by a higher-order server (e.g. in the GSM network by a base station), each subscriber station of the communications network must poll the relevant server at regular time intervals in order to determine whether new software is available for downloading. This generates an additional load.

[0009] The object of the invention is therefore to produce a method for providing software in radio-based cellular communications networks which enables short transmission times with simultaneously low costs.

[0010] This object is achieved by a method for providing software in radio-based cellular communications networks, in which:

[0011] a subscriber station which has stored the software to be provided and is registered with a cell of the communications network notifies a storage device of the cell of the availability of the software in the cell and the storage device creates a record of the software availability,

[0012] a network device sends a message indicating the availability of the software to the subscriber stations registered with the cell,

[0013] a further subscriber station registered with the cell requests the software by sending a message, whereby the message is transmitted with a limited transmit power so that the message can only be received by subscriber stations which are at a distance from the transmitting subscriber station which is short compared with the diameter of the cell, and

[0014] the software is transmitted directly from the subscriber station to the further subscriber station when the subscriber station has received the message transmitted by the further subscriber station.

[0015] The object according to the invention is furthermore achieved by a communications network according to claim 8.

[0016] Advantageous designs form the subject-matter of dependent claims.

[0017] The method according to the invention offers in particular the following advantages:

[0018] 1. The software upgrade is carried out in the manner of a “snowball” system. Each subscriber station which is registered with a cell and has stored the software can transmit said software to further subscriber stations registered with the cell. Each subscriber station is therefore both a client and a server. Through the direct transmission of the software from one subscriber station to one or more further subscriber stations, virtually exponential distribution of the software can be achieved. Correspondingly, the time taken to make the software available to all subscriber stations registered with a cell can be reduced by a multiple.

[0019] 2. Resources are saved compared with a hierarchical client-server system, since, at the beginning of the method, the software can be transmitted from only one server to one subscriber station of the communications network, which can then forward the software to the other subscriber stations of the communications network.

[0020] 3. Since the software can be transmitted directly from one subscriber station to a further subscriber station, and a network device performs signaling tasks only, resources are additionally saved.

[0021] It is furthermore particularly advantageous if the message requesting the software is repeated at least once by the subscriber station. Due to the mobility of the subscriber stations it is possible that, when a first request is made for the software available in the cell, no subscriber station which has stored the software is located in physical proximity to the requesting subscriber station. However, with a repeat transmission of the message requesting the software, a subscriber station may then be located in the vicinity of the requesting subscriber station, so that the transmission can be initiated.

[0022] It is also advantageous for the transmit power to be increased in steps up to its limit with each transmission of the message requesting the software. Resources are saved by reducing the transmit power at the beginning. The range of the transmitter can simultaneously be extended by increasing the transmit power with each transmission of the message, so that a greater number of adjacent subscriber stations can be reached. The probability of thus reaching a subscriber station which is carrying the software to be distributed is thereby increased.

[0023] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in individual figures, in which:

[0024]FIG. 1 shows the indication of the availability of software by a subscriber station registered with a cell with a storage device of the same cell,

[0025]FIG. 2 shows the entry into the cell of a subscriber station which is also carrying the software to be provided,

[0026]FIG. 3 shows the entry into the cell of two subscriber stations which are not carrying the software to be provided,

[0027]FIG. 4 shows the transmission of the software from one subscriber station to another, adjacent subscriber station, and

[0028]FIG. 5 shows the provision of the software to a subscriber station by a network device.

[0029]FIG. 1 schematically shows a section of a cellular communications network with four cells Z. In simple terms, each cell Z has a honeycomb shape. A network device BS is disposed in each case centrally in the cells Z, said device performing radio operation with subscriber stations TNR in the cell Z. In the context of this invention, a subscriber station TNR includes a multiplicity of widely differing terminal devices, e.g. mobile telephones, printers, pagers, etc.

[0030] Software which is to be provided is stored in a subscriber station TNR1. The software may have been transmitted to the subscriber station TNR1, for example, from a server located inside the communications network or outside the network. When the subscriber station TNR1 changes over from one cell Z into a new cell ZNEU, as shown in FIG. 1, the subscriber station TNR1 informs a storage device BL of the cell ZNEU that the software is available to the subscriber stations TNR within the cell ZNEU. To do this, the subscriber station TNR1 sends a message to the storage device BL, notifying it that the software is available. The storage device BL manages this information in a suitable manner, e.g. as an entry in an updateable table. According to the invention, the entry contains at least information relating to the type of software provided; in addition, however, a link can also be set up to an address which identifies the subscriber station TNR1.

[0031] In a next method step, the network device BS notifies the subscriber stations TNR of the cell ZNEU via a transmission channel (e.g. BCCH) that the software is available in the cell ZNEU. Furthermore, signaling information is also transmitted. The notification indicates, for example, the physical transmission channel on which and the maximum transmit power with which the subscriber stations TNR may request the software.

[0032] If a further subscriber station TNR2 transfers into the cell ZNEU, as shown in FIG. 2, the subscriber station TNR2 compares its own software with the entries in the storage device BL in terms of the software stored in the cell ZNEU. If the subscriber station TNR2 establishes that an entry relating to the availability of its own software already exists in the storage device BL and the software is consequently available in the cell ZNEU, a link can be set up according to the invention between the existing entry and the subscriber station TNR2. If links of this type are not available in the storage device BL, no further action is taken.

[0033] Subscriber stations TNR3 and TNR4, which move into the cell ZNEU, as shown in FIG. 3, receive the message from the network device BS relating to the software available in the cell ZNEU. By comparing the software available in the cell ZNEU with the software stored in the subscriber stations TNR3 and TNR4, the subscriber stations TNR3 and TNR4 in each case establish that they need this software, for example for an upgrade.

[0034] The subscriber station TNR3 requests the software via a cell-specific transmission channel, e.g. the RACH (Random Access Channel, GSM network). To do this, the subscriber station TNR3 sends a message NR2 with a limited transmit power, whereby the message NR2 is directed to the further subscriber stations TNR in the cell. The transmit power is preferably selected in such a way that only subscriber stations TNR adjacent to the subscriber station TNR3 can receive the message NR2. In particular, a transmit radius of the subscriber station TNR3 for transmission of the message NR2 is less than half the cell radius. Only subscriber stations TNR located within a range of around 20 m of the subscriber station TNR3 can preferably receive the message. If no subscriber station which can provide the requested software is located within this range, the message NR2 can be repeated once or several times. The method according to the invention simultaneously provides that the transmit power can be increased with each repetition of the message NR2, until the transmit power attains a maximum value. In this way, the transmit radius is increased with each transmission of the message NR2, thereby increasing the probability that subscriber stations TNR which can provide the requested software are located within the transmit radius.

[0035] The software can be transmitted in a subsequent step (FIG. 4) directly from the subscriber station TNR to the subscriber station TNR3 with no intermediate switching by a network device, e.g. the base station. This method step is preferably applied if the subscriber stations TNR and TNR3 operate independently from the network, as defined, for example, by the “Bluetooth” standard.

[0036] It is also possible to set up a transmission connection between the two subscriber stations TNR and TNR3 through the intermediate switching of the network device NE. To do this, the network device NE performs the transmission connection signaling, while the software can be transmitted directly from the subscriber station TNR to the subscriber station TNR3. This variant is appropriately selected if the subscriber stations TNR are under the responsibility of the communications network. An example of this is provided by the “direct mode” for the HIPERLAN standard.

[0037] An example of the set-up of a transmission connection of the “direct mode” type between two subscriber stations TNRA and TNRB may appear as follows:

[0038] A subscriber station TNRA, wishing to set up a direct transmission connection to a further subscriber station TNRB, sends a limited-power signal via a cell-specific transmission channel, e.g. the RACH (GSM network). The transmit power can be defined here as the maximum or as a fixed transmit power. The subscriber station TNRA defines its own transmit radius by limiting the transmit power below the defined maximum. This is particularly advantageous if only specific, adjacent subscriber stations are to be addressed.

[0039] In order to request software or to request general data, the subscriber station TNRA generates a message NR2, with which the subscriber stations TNR in the cell are notified of the software which the subscriber station TNRA is requesting. To do this, the subscriber stations TNR must poll the transmission channel RACH and perform a comparison to establish whether the requested software matches their own stored software. If no subscriber station TNR responds after a defined time, the message NR2 is repeated. A subscriber station TNRB which receives the message NR2 and can provide the required software notifies receipt of the message NR2 and its content to the network device NE. The network device NE then signals the set-up of a transmission connection between the subscriber station TNRA and the first subscriber station TNR to signal receipt of the message NR2 from the network device NE.

[0040] If no subscriber station TNR which is carrying the software is available within the transmit radius of the subscriber station TNR3 at the time of the request of the message NR2, the subscriber station TNR3 can, according to the invention, request the software from the network device NE via a suitable transmission channel. Addresses of a server, for example, which provides the software, are stored in the storage device BL, or a record is held of the subscriber stations TNR which are registered with the cell and which are carrying the software to be provided. With the aid of these entries in the storage device BL, the network device NE then initiates transmission of the software from the server or the subscriber station TNR to the subscriber station TNR3 requesting the software.

[0041] According to a further variant of the invention (FIG. 5), following a request by the subscriber station TNR4 for the software from the network device NE, the network device NE can carry out cell-wide paging of all subscriber stations TNR concerning the requested software. If a subscriber station TNR2 which is carrying the software reports to the network device NE, the network device NE then sets up a connection between the subscriber station TNR2, the network device NE and the requesting subscriber station TNR43 to transmit the software.

[0042] If no subscriber station TNR which is carrying the requested software is now located in the cell, the network device NE sets up a connection to a server which has stored the software. The server may be located inside or outside the communications network. The server may be allocated to a service provider, a manufacturer or a network operator. 

1. A method for providing software in radio-based cellular communications networks, in which a subscriber station (TNR1) which has stored the software to be provided and is registered with a cell of the communications network notifies a storage device (BL) of the cell of the availability of the software in the cell and the storage device (BL) creates a record of the software availability, a network device (NE) sends a message (NR) indicating the availability of the software to the subscriber stations (TNR) registered with the cell, a further subscriber station (TNR2) registered with the cell requests the software by sending a message (NR2), whereby the message (NR2) is transmitted with a limited transmit power so that the message can only be received by subscriber stations (TNR) which are at a distance from the transmitting subscriber station (TNR2) which is short compared with the diameter of the cell, and the software is transmitted directly from the subscriber station (TNR1) to the further subscriber station (TNR2) when the subscriber station (TNR1) has received the message (NR2) transmitted by the further subscriber station (TNR2).
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the subscriber station (TNR1) sends a receipt confirmation to the network device (NE) and the network device (NE) sets up a connection in order to transmit the software between the subscriber station (TNR1) and the further subscriber station (TNR2).
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, if the connection set-up between two subscriber stations (TNR) fails, the message (NR2) requesting the software is repeated at least once by the further subscriber station (TNR2).
 4. The method as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that, with each transmission of the message (NR2), the transmit power is increased in steps until it attains a maximum transmit power.
 5. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the messages stored in the storage device (BL) are deleted at the end of a defined time.
 6. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an expiry date relating to software which is available for transmission to the subscriber stations of the communications network is stored in the storage device.
 7. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a subscriber station which leaves the cell with which it is registered notifies this to the storage device (BL), and the storage device updates the notifications to indicate that the software is no longer available for transmission from the subscriber station.
 8. A communications network for implementing the method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communications network has a storage device (SE) to create and store entries relating to software availability. 